Iron ore from banned mining leases in Goa

NGOs have brought to light large scale transportation of Iron ore from banned mining leases of Netravali wildlife sanctuaries during last few days.

Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE), a NGO, today said that they have been petitioning every authority including Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava to ban the transportation of ore from Netravali wildlife sanctuary.

“Nothing has happened. I checked even now. The trucks are plying and ore is shifted from the sanctuary,” GXE President Dilip Hegde said.

Supreme Court of India through their judgement two years back had closed all the mining leases in Netravali wildlife sanctuary after local NGO Goa Foundation moved an application.

Since then, the mining has come to grinding halt here.

“Suddenly, one morning around 100 trucks have started moving around the place carrying ore. They have to cross two forest check post gates to reach to the dumps,” Hegde said.

The NGO has estimated that during last five days ore worth Rs five to six crores have been shifted from the sanctuary. “This must be their last desperate attempt to shift the ore. This is robbery,” Seby Rodrigues, an anti-mining activist, said.

The activists said that in last five days ore worth 2,000 to 3,000 MT have been shifted from the sanctuary.

“Sanguem MLA Vasudeo Meng Gaonkar is clearly involved in the entire operation as it is happening just two kilometers away from his house,” Rodrigues said.

GXE activist Abhijeet Prabhudesai said that the people have seen Urban development Minister Joaquim Alemao physically present at the mines site.

“The locals are scheduled tribe people. They are busy in their daily chores. How will they even think of fighting against mighty politicians?,” Prabhudesai said replying to a question.

The NGO has now decided to approach Goa Foundation’s Dr Claud Alvares who had filed case in the supreme court. “Goa Foundation has the first right to file contempt petition in this regard,” Rodrigues said.